Abstract

To evaluate and compare the choroidal thickness in old-aged (>45 years) patients with dry type of age releated macular degeneration and age-matched normal population using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary eye clinic center. The study consists of 2 study and 1 control groups. Fifty-three eyes of 27 patients and 56 eyes of 28 patiens who were firstly diagnosed with dry type of age releated macular degeneration were participated in the study groups and 64 eyes of 32 individuals without any retinal or choroidal disorder were participated in the control group. All 173 eyes underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination including optical coherence tomography. An experienced observer measured choroidal thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. No statistically significiant difference was established between the means of age among three groups. The distribution of choroidal thickness measurements demonstrated a normal distribution in all 3 groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the study groups in terms of mean choroidal thickness, but there were significant differences in mean choroidal thickness between the control group and both study groups. In our study, it was observed that choroidal thickness can be analysed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and choroidal thickness in patients with dry type of age releated macular degeneration is appeared to be thinner than normal age-matched population.

Key words: Age releated macular degeneration, choroidal thickness, optical coherence tomography